Performing Arts Fort Worth Presents
Rhett Butler
Part of the McDavid Studio Concert Series
Location: McDavid Studio
Rhett Butler is the Obsessive-Compulsive Guitarist
In 1987 he received his first guitar for Christmas. As his primary antidote against the pain and fear that he felt through his brother's bouts with cancer, Rhett retreated into the instrument. What blossomed was a fiery work ethic that is reflected in his mastery of multiple styles and his passionate performances.
Rhett was admitted to the prestigious jazz program at the University of North Texas in 1993. Early on, Rhett developed a trademark hammer-on style that allows him to play two guitars at once by fingering each of their fret boards, coaxing filigreed harmonies and shimmering melodies without needing to strum.
Though Rhett is most well known for playing two guitars at once, don't make the mistake of trying to classify him as a gimmick performer. He regularly features five or six different guitars during his performances.
Rhett has performed with Tommy Emmanuel, Larry Carlton, Al DiMeola, Eric Johnson, Joe Satriani, Larry Corryell, Tony Trischka, The California Guitar Trio, Carl Palmer, Andy Timmons and many other legends of instrumental music. He is among the next generation of Texas guitar heroes.
When he is not performing, Rhett is very involved in the fight against cancer. The documentary, "Chasing Miracles", that Rhett made about the life of his brother Ashley, a 28 year brain tumor survivor, was featured in the Dallas International Film Festival in 2011. His book, "The Patient and Caregiver's Guide to Cancer" is an Amazon Best Seller in two categories, oncology and caregiving.
Reviews
The young Texan’s technique is beyond belief. Take, for example, Good and Evil, on which Butler played both acoustic and electric guitars — at the same time! Or, more exactly, he played half of two guitars simultaneously. Because Butler seldom touched the body of his guitar. He played almost everything on the neck, usually finger-picking up and down the fret board with both hands. And he still managed to create so full a sound all by himself that, if you heard it on CD, you would swear it was six or eight guys playing guitars. His whole set was from a completely different universe.
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